Universal jack switch



Get. 24, 1939. R H, HUMMERT 2,177,409

UNIVERSAL JACK SWITCH Filed Nov. 13, 1937 I INVENTOR sy K/ 4,4; A TTORNEY Patented Qct. 24, 191 59 UNITED STATES PATENT orries UNIVERSAL JACK swrrcn Robert H. Hummert, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to S. H. Thomson Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 13, 1937, Serial No. 174,479

2 Claims. (01. 173-324) 1 This invention relates to new and useful imreceive the projecting sleeve end ID of a plug II provements in universal jack switches. on the end of a conducting cord I2 attached to It is one of the principal objects of my invenan electrical appliance such as the pistol grip tion to provide a simple, solid, positive jack switch spot lamp I3.

4 for use in buildings and on automobiles as well Set in a counterbored portion of the lateral 5 as on all types of wet and dry batteries wherever extension 8 of the jack I is a fiber insulating they are employed, sleeve I4 in which a flanged bushing I5 is set A further object of the invention is to provide to form a guide for a semispherical contact buta jack switch which cannot be made inoperative ton IS. The latter is mounted on a longitudinal- 10 through accidents that incapacitate the ordinary ly movable conductor stem I! surrounded by a 10 switches of this type, nor is it as susceptible to helical spring I8. This spring exerts an upward shorting. pressure upon the contact button It to hold it in My jack switch is universal in that by means of the path of inward movement of the grooved ball it an electrical connection may be easily changed head I9 on the outer end of a conducting rod from one electrical unit to another. For examwhich passes through and is internally insu- 15 ple, when my jack switch is employed, a spot lated from the sleeve end I0 of the hollow plug lamp may be easily disconnected from the trans- I I. The head I9 is insulated from the outer end former of a house circuit and connected to a of this sleeve ID by a fiber washer 2I. To the portable battery unit, and vice versa. inner end of the conducting rod 20 one end of a My jack has the qualities of positiveness, simwire 22 is secured by terminal connecting means 20 plicity and sturdiness wherever it is used, and 23, said wire being a part of the cord I2 leading makes possible an easy and quick connection of to the spot lamp I3. spot lamps or other electrical devices to trans- The contact button I6 is limited in its outward formers, batteries and the like. movement by a flange 24 on the lower end of the 5 Other important and incidental objects will be stem I1, that engages the bottom of the flanged 25 brought out in the following specification and bushing I5. Secured to the lower end of the particularly set forth in the subjoined claims. stem I1 is an insulated wire 25 which leads to In the accompanying drawing illustrating my the terminal 26 of the secondary coil of the elecinvention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional trical unit whose other terminal 5 of that coil view taken through my universal jack switch, carries the jack I. Two of such units, to wit, 30 showing the plug in a circuit closing position the transformer 6 and the battery I are shown in within the jack. Figure 2 is an end view of the Figures 4 and 5 respectively. jack. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pistol The other wire 21 of the cord I2 is secured by grip spot lamp carrying a plug adapted to fit terminal connecting means 28 to a flanged conmy universal jack. Figure 4 is a perspective tact bushing 29 secured in the outer threaded end 35 View of a house current transformer equipped of the hollow plug II. The outer disc or face with my jack that is adapted to receive the plug portion of this bushing engages the inner end on the spot lamp. of the tubular part 9 of the jack to receive our- And Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portrent from the terminal 5 through the body of the able dry battery equipped with my jack ready to jack which is insulated from the rod 20 connect- 40 receive the plug so that the battery may be the ed with the wire 22. source of current supply for the light. An easy connection is effected between the Referring to the accompanying drawing for a plug II and the jack I by thrusting the head I9 detailed description of my invention, the numeral oi the plug through the tubular part 9 of the jack I designates a one-piece jack member, preferover and into engagement with the button con- 45 ably a casting, having a straight part 2 terminattact I6. The engagement between the latter and ing at its lower end in ahexagonal portion 3 with the head I9 of the plug is a tcnsioned one bean internally threaded or tapped hole 4. By cause of the spring I8 that surrounds the stem means of a wrench applied to its hexagonal por- IT. This spring upon which the button contact tion 3, the jack I may be screwed down upon one Is rests, makes it possible for the head I 9 of 50 terminal 5 of a house current transformer 6, a the plug to be easily engaged with, and withportable dry battery I or other electrical unit. drawn from, that contact by a lateral movement (See Figures 4 and 5.) of the plug.

The casting I has a lateral extension 8 just It is now seen that my one-piece jack is sturdy,

below a right-angled tubular part 9 adapted to simple and positive and not subject to accidental 55 injuries which easily incapacitate other jack connections from use. The jack is free to swivel around the stem I! so that it will not break off easily, thus simplifying it from an insulating and wearing standpoint.

The plug H carried by the electrical appliance is easily inserted in the tubular part 9 of the jack to make an electrical connection with the current-supplying unit. For example, the pistol grip spot lamp I3 of Figure 3 may be easily connected to the house current transformer 6 by means of my jack, and as easily withdrawn from it and connected to the portable battery I if the house current fails or for any other reason. My jack is thus a universal one in the sense of its extreme adaptability to current-supplying electrical units to which it is desired to quickly, positively and strongly connect electrical appliances.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1'. A jack of the character described adapted for cooperation with 'a plug having 'a cylindrical contact member and an end ball contact, said jack comprising a metal casting having an internally threaded end portion for electrical attachment to one terminal of an electric unit to support said casting thereon and having a cylindrical passage adapted to receive the cylindrical contact member of the plug for electrical and mechanical attachment thereof, said casting having a stem receiving passage extending substantially transversely of the plug receiving passage, a

stem longitudinally movable in said stem receiving passage and having'a rounded contact end projecting beyond. said passage and adapted for yielding engagement with the end ball contact of the plug, means insulating said stem from the casting, spring means urging said stem towards the axis of said plug receiving passage, and a wire fixed t0 the end of said stem which is remote from its contact end and adapted for connection to the second terminal of the electric unit.

2. A jack of the character described comprising a metal body member having an internally threaded end portion for electrical attachment to one terminal of an electric current supply unit to support said body member thereon, and having a portion integral with the internally threaded portion and provided with a cylindrical passage adapted to receive a plug for electrical and mechanical attachment thereof, said body memher having a stem receiving passage extending substantially transversely of the plug receiving passage, a stem longitudinally movable in said stem receiving passage and having a rounded contact head projecting beyond said passage and adapted for engagement with the end of the plug, means insulating said stem from the body member, a helical spring surrounding said stem and engaging the head thereof for urging said stem towards the axis of said plug receiving passage to engage its contact end with the plug, and a Wire fixed to the end of said stem which is remote from its contact end and adapted for connection to the second terminal'of the electrical unit.

ROBERT H. HUMMERT,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,177,LLO9. I October 21;, 1959.

ROBERT H. HUMMERT. It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "S. H. Thomson Manufacturing Company" whereas said name should have been described and specified as The S. H. Thomson Manufacturing Company, of Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as shown bythe record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

